Circular-knitting machine.



c. CLARINGBURN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, I9I5.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TED sTATEs PATENT oEEIjoE.

CHARLES CLARINGBURMIF HvsoN-GREEN, NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND;

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 4, 1916.

- Application led March 3, 1915. Serial No. 11,781.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES CLARING,

` v machines such as are used fori making seamless knitted 'elastic stockings and the like or other articles in which the shape and size of the stocking or the like is variediby regulating the pull or tension of the elastic thread fed into the fabric in course of manufacture, andthe main object of this my invention is the provision of the means by which any required length of elastic thread can be definitely fed 'into the fabric, for every course knitted-all in such a. manner that the length of this elastic thread which is fed into the machine can be automatically varied as required to suit the variations necessary to form the varymg size and shape of the article being made in the knitting machine. For this purpose the .knitting machine isrfitted centrally at its base to a horizontal ,circular table support d by standards carrying the driving mec anlsm under* neath. This driving mechanism-in addition to operating the knitting 'machinedrives a revolving arm above 'the circular table around and at the base of the machine. This revolving arm is fitted with a long regulating screw, and a plain shaft placed' parallel with each other,`and both turningI in a bearing at each end of the arm. The plain shaft is fittedwith a disk resting on and driven by the circular table and is capable of sliding backward and forward on thel shaft and of driving the shaft by means of a key or feather attached to the disk sliding in a keyway formed the full length of the shaft between the bearings. The inner endof the shaft is fittedwitha bevel wheel fixed to same for driving a pair of positive feed y rollers, between which the elastic thread is fed to the needles of the knitting machine at varying speeds according to the position of the driving disk as it 'revolves on the circular table, the feed being faster as the disk revolves .at the outer circumference of the table, andslower as it revolves inward on the table. The position of the disk on the of the same machine.

table is regulated by the regulating screw Vnamed' above, which carries on it a nut studs arranged to come into action when coming in contact with the upper arms of the star wheel when it is krequired that the regulating screw be partially rotated4 to move the driving disk in onel direction; and with one or more lower studs when the driving disk is required tolbe partially rotatedy 1n the opposite direction, one stud or set of 7studs only being in operation at one time.

The propulsion ofthe upper or lower stud or studs 1s effected by connecting them by suitable mechanism so as to be operated alternately by buttons or cams placed at desired intervals on each edge of an endless flexible chain passing around two chain wheels, one of which is driven from the knitting machine driving gearbysuitable means-all arranged in such a manner that when thebuttons on one edge of the chain come in contact vlwith the lever or levers actuating the upper stud or studs these are pushed forward for turning the star wheel.,

in one direction, and when the buttons on the other edge come in Contact with thel lever or levers actuating the lower stud or studs they are pushed forward to turn the sta-r wheel in the other direction. In each' case after the buttons have passed the levers on either side the studs are automatically withdrawn from action by springs or other suitable means. y I'attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichl Figurel is an end elevation of'a clrcular rib knitting machine such' .as is used for making seamless knitted elastic stockings and the like, showing my improved elasticl thread varying appliance. Fig. 2 is a' plan Fig. 3 is al side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the elastic thread feed rollers. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the'same. j Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The circular rib knitting machine shown crate in ordinary circular rib knitting ma.

rollers 27, and other' usual parts of the ma.- chine as now used and constructed to -opchines for the production of seamless knitted elastic stockings and the like.

For the purpose of my invention lf fit the Y knitting machine centrally at its base with a circular table 1 supported by the two standards 7. rllhis table carries from bearing brackets 8 the driving mechanism comprising the fast and loose pulleys 9-10, shafts 11 and 11", gear wheels 12 for driving the cam cylinder 6, to which is fitted twoarms 13, at the outer ends of which is pivoted the revolving arm or frame 14, comprisin the regulating screw 15 and the plain sha t 1G, both turning in bearings formedv in the carrying plates 18 at each end, these plates being rigidly held apart by the stay rods 14. The shaft 16 is fitted with the regulating disk 2 which rests on and is rotated by the table 1 as it revolves thereonwhen rotating with the revolving arm or frame 14, and the disk 2 is arranged to slide backward and forward on the shaft 16, and to drive same by means of a key or feather attached to the disk 2 and sliding in the keyway 20 formed the full length of the shaft between the bearings. rl`he shaft 16 is fitted with the bevel wheel 21 gearingy into ,bevel wheel 22,

l which in turn drives the positive feed rollers 23, between which the elastic thread is fed to the needles of the knitting machine at varying speeds according to the position of the driving disk 2 as it revolves en the circular table 1, the feed beingfaster as the disk revolves at the outer circumference of the table, and becomes gradually slower as it revolves inward on the table 1.

The position .of the disk 2 on the table 1 is determined by the regulating crew 15,

which carries on it the nut 24 formed withA a claw arm 25, the outer end of which engages in a groove formed on the boss of the driving or refrulating disk 2. The outer 26, which in ro ting comes in contact as required with ei ier the upper or lower set of sliding stud 28 or 28x which slide in the slide frames 30 attached to the angle plate 17 carried from table 1. The sliding studs 28 and 28 which slide in the frames 30, are propelled forward to come into con- -tact at their inner ends with the arms on the star wheel 26 bytheir outer ends sliding up the wedge pieces 31 and 31X sliding in the slide frames 30 as these wedge pieces `are moved to the right hand by the levers 32 and 32X to the upper end of which they end of this sorevis fitted with thedstar wheel are pivotedklhe levers 32 and 32x areI Lieefiae pivoted at their lower ends to the framing 29 fixed at thetop to the table 1, and at its base to the fioor. Either of the levers 32 and 32X are brought into action as required by the stud 33 fixed to same engaging with the small.lower part of the.l slot 34 formed in the horizontal connecting rods or crank arms 35 and 35X` which are driven horizontally backward and forward by the crank and pin 36 fixed to the end of the driving shaft 11x and brought into action as scribed below. Y

r1`he shaft 11 carries on the other side Vof the bearing8 an eccentric 37 which actuates an oscillating pawl 38, the free end of which engages with the teeth formed on the ratchet wheel 39 which is rotated there by along with the chain wheel 40 to which it is attached, both rotating on an -axle fixed to the bracket 41. rll`his chain wheel is fitted with a spring friction brake, and drives by suitable teeth formed on same theendless chain 42 carried at its lower end by the wheel 43 turning on an axle carried from the framing 29, in whichit can be adjusted along the slot 44.

The chain 42 is fitted with a series of studs 45 in the center, another Series 46 on the outer side, and one or more studs on the inner side.' rllhese studs Vcome in contact at the top of the chain wheel 40as the chain is driven upward-with the lower edges of 'levers 47 and 47Xfulorumed at 48 fro-m the table 1; stud series 45 lifts up lever 47X, and stud series 46 lifts up lever 47. Each of these levers is formed at its outer end with a foot or lifter piece arranged to bear under the outer ends of levers 35 and 35 respectively, and which they raise at suitable times. When either lever 35 or 35X is raised the pin' 33 in lever 32 or 32Xvengages with the small lower' part of the slot 34 formed in same, and by this means either wedge piece 31 or 31x is moved to theright hand so as to push forward pins 28 or 28x until they come in contact with the upper or lower arms of the stud wheel 26 for varying the Speed of the elastic thread feed rollers 23 as explained before.

'llhe series of one or more studs on the inner side are for stopping the machine by actuating the right hand endof lever 49 and disengaging the left hand end from the slot 50 under 'the'sliding bar 51 ofthe belt strikinggear 52, which then moves to the .right and. transfers the driving belt from the fast pulley 9 to the loose pulley 10.

The elastic thread is carried in the tin 53 which rotates with and iscarried by the revolving arm 14, and the thread is suitably guided through the hole in the eye plate 27 to the feeding rollers 23, and from there to the elastic thread 'carrier 3. '.lhe other knitting threads on the bobbins 54 are carried by the frame 55, where they are suitably tenthread-by reducing the speed of the feed rollers-is stretched as it is knitted into the fabric, andafter it has left the machine the elastic thread contracts and lso reduces the size of the stocking or the like. If on the other hand the length of the elastic thread fed into the machine equals the circumference of the needle cylinder-the speed of the feed rollers is increased accordingly-so that the fabric after it has left the machine is The different levers, slides, pins, and the like described may be fitted with adjustable stops and springs to bring them back to their normal positions after each movement.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a'circular rib knitting machine as used for making seamless knitted elastic stockings and the like, in combination, a circular feed table, a disk rolling thereon at varying diameters and elastic thread feed rollers drlven therefrom at varylng speeds for the purpose herein described.

2. In a circular rib knitting machine as used for making seamless knitted elastic stockings and the like, in combination, a feed table, a disk rolling thereon at varying speeds, an 'automat-ic means for positioning.

said disk radially on said table.

3. -In a circular rib knitting machine as used 4for making seamless knitted elastic stockings and the like, in combination, a circular feed table, a disk rolling thereon at varying speeds, a frame carrying said disk revolving around said table, a disk shaft, elastic thread rollers driven therefrom, and automatic means including a regulating screw for positioning Said disk radially o n said table.

In 'testimony whereof I have allixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES CLARINGBURN.

Witnesses:

H. WALKER HILL, THos. H. COOK. 

